Process and apparatus for waste water treatment

Abstract

Systems for treating water containing unwanted contaminants. More particularly, the present invention relates to waste water treatment systems including biological media used to aerobically or anaerobically treat solid and liquid waste in water for large and small-scale waste water systems in a way that minimizes the size of the system required to output high-quality, environmentally suitable water that is depleted of ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and other contaminants.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. Apparatus for the treatment of contaminants in water, comprising: 
       a source of growing nitrifying bacteria effective for treating said contaminants under aerobic conditions, and a source of growing denitrifying bacteria effective for denitrification under anaerobic conditions; and  
       a controller for introducing said growing bacteria to said contaminants in a predetermined amount over a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said controller further introduces nutrients to said contaminants in water. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said nutrients comprise a carbon source or a mixture of a carbon source and micronutrients. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said carbon source is liquid and non-flammable. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said carbon source comprises at least one carbohydrate. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a nitrification vessel. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said denitrifying bacteria are introduced upstream of said nitrification vessel. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said nitrification vessel is heated to a temperature of from about 10 to about 40° C. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said growing bacteria are in the log growth stage. 
     
     
       10. A process for purifying contaminated water, comprising: 
       providing growing nitrifying bacteria effective for treating contaminants in said contaminated water under aerobic conditions;  
       providing growing denitrifying bacteria effective for nitrification under anaerobic conditions; and  
       introducing into said contaminated water said growing bacteria in a predetermined amount over a predetermined time period effective, for purifying said contaminated water.  
     
     
       11. The process of  claim 10 , further comprising providing said growing bacteria with a carbon source. 
     
     
       12. The process of  claim 11 , wherein said carbon source includes a bacteriostat. 
     
     
       13. The process of  claim 11 , further comprising creating said growing denitrifying bacteria by feeding bacteria with said carbon source. 
     
     
       14. In a waste water treatment system including a settling tank, apparatus for introducing growing bacteria into said system, comprising: 
       a source of growing nitrifying bacteria effective for treating said contaminants under aerobic conditions;  
       a source of growing denitrifying bacteria effective for denitrification under anaerobic conditions; and  
       a controller for introducing said growing bacteria to said contaminants downstream of said settling tank in a predetermined amount over a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
       15. The waste water treatment system of  claim 14 , wherein said settling tank is a septic tank. 
     
     
       16. In the waste water treatment system of  claim 14 , said controller further introducing a carbon source to said contaminants in water. 
     
     
       17. Apparatus for introducing bacteria and bacteria nutrients to a waste water treatment system, comprising: 
       a first bacteria holding tank for storing nitrifying bacteria under aerobic conditions;  
       a second bacteria holding tank for storing denitrifying bacteria under anaerobic conditions;  
       a bacteria pump in fluid communication with said first bacteria holding tank for pumping said nitrifying bacteria to said system;  
       a bacteria pump in fluid communication with said second bacteria holding tank for pumping said denitrifying bacteria to said system;  
       a nutrient holding tank for storing nutrients for said bacteria;  
       a nutrient pump in fluid communication with said nutrient holding tank for pumping said nutrients to said system; and  
       a controller for controlling the timing of said pumping of said bacteria and of said nutrients.  
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising means for introducing oxygen into said system.